In American history, one
Congressman was re-elected from jail
Immigrant
Orphan
Soldier
Statesman
Founder of Fairhaven, Vt.
Publisher of
The Scourge of Aristocracy
The Lyon of Vermont
The public are here presented Matthew Lyon's musical entitled: Spit'n Lyon, an unsung soldier's song
Nature has left this tincture in the blood,
that all men would be tyrants if they could;
if they forbear their neighbors to devour,
tis not for want of will,
but want of power.-
-De-Foe. Jure Divino.
Ivory Tower
Act2
Beleaguered but defiant Lyon, in jail, sings to President Adams
Ivory Tower
Have enough money? All that power to your head?
You've got no idea what your up against.
It must be cold in your ivory tower, where no-one ever told the truth,
far below in the rising water, no-one gives a damn for you.
Attack the immigrants, cause they don't look like us?
They don't know my God? What have we become?
It must be cold in your ivory tower, where no-one ever told the truth,
far below in the rising water, no-one gives a damn for you.
So lets get one thing straight, what makes our country great is our diversity
I hope you learn to see
It must be cold in your ivory tower, where no-one ever told the truth,
far below in the rising water, no-one gives a damn for you.
Perhaps the Gentlemen
Act 2
Beulah Lyon campaigns for her imprisoned husband. She is flanked by two Green Mountain Boys.
Beulah Lyon Portrayed by Tella
Perhaps the Gentlemen
Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain ? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain ?
Not a Jury of his peers, men of enmity to Lyon,
you marched us forty miles from our home.
A judge appointed by Adams, wished he'd had a harsher sentence,
just bars for windows on the coldest of the year.
Perhaps the gentlemen can explain? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain?
A sitting congressman in shackles marched through the town square!
have you not heard of checks and balances sir?
This letter post marked 7th of July and yet not published till the 20th? why? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain?Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain?
Who will be your next offender? your agenda is dangerous,
you won't break our spirit! who will be your next offender?
Today Irish, tomorrow French, who's to say you won't be next?
The Gentlemen shall explain? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain?
And you grabbed by the Lyon, like some tiger by the tail!
you treat him like an enemy of the state. far be it for a woman to play upon your sympathies I'd hoped you'd have your own good sense of dignity
The gentlemen can explain? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain ?
Who will be your next offender? your agenda is obvious,
you won't break our spirit! Who will be your next offender?
Today Irish, tomorrow French, who's to say you won't be next?
The gentlemen shall explain? Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain ?
And we have a constitution, it would help if you would use it!
play another round of cricket? Perhaps the gentlemen can explain?
Perhaps the Gentlemen can explain? and if the gentlemen can't explain
perhaps the gentlemen are to blame.
This might Not Work
The election of 1800 in which Lyon cast the tie-breaking vote giving us President Jefferson
This Might Not Work
16 States majority stake. Jefferson or Burr?
16 States majority stake, this might not work...
Electoral College with no return so it falls on congress's shoulders
Adams wasn't even close. So they chose
16 States majority stake, Jefferson or Burr?
16 States majority stake, this might not work
Congress knew all too well, Burr was on the VP ballot
Choosing party over state, Vote after vote tied 8 to 8
16 States majority stake. Jefferson or Burr?
16 States majority stake, this might not work
The country is so young. The power struggle we’ll come undone.
In more danger by the hour, can we peacefully transfer power? No one knows.
Mr. Morris, If you leave your ballot blank, I'll leave Vermont
There's no home for me anyway for all the Adams Magistrate
Mr. Morris, have we reached an accord?
Let your handshake be your word
16 States majority stake, Jefferson or Burr.
16 States majority stake! Jefferson!
We have a new President! We have a new President!
We have a new President!
Jefferson.
Alien & Sedition Acts
Congressman Lyon is shackled as President Adams signs the unconstitutional Alien & Sedition Acts.
President Adams portrayed by
Milton Busker miltonbusker.com
Alien & Sedition Acts
The President has the right to refuse you!
The President has the right to refuse you!
His Excellency, May expel by such alien born persons
that he may judge to be dangerous to his rule!
The President has the right to refuse you!
The President has the right to refuse you!
His Excellency, the president, may imprison any person
who shall print or publish against this government
Maliciously I say to thee.
The President has the right to refuse you!
The President has the right to refuse you!
you intend to disrepute?. I refuse you !
you intend to stir sedition I refuse you!
By this rightful law I can imprison those who clearly threaten me
or the peace and security,
The President has the right to refuse you!
The President has the right to refuse you!
as I draw my quill upon this legislation
it is no accident the day of it's creation!
Happy birthday Mr Lyon!
The President has the right to refuse you!
The President has the right to refuse you!
Who was the Lyon of Vermont?
History
Imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which gave President Adams the right to bar or expel immigrants and incarcerate those who published against the administration
Repeats
Lyon's letter published accuses Adams of needing 'foolish adulation' and 'ridiculous pomp'
Four Months in in jail, Oct-Feb.
Re-elected by a 2-1 margin. A parade 12 miles long follows the Lyon of Vermont to Philidelphia.
Forgotten
"One who deserved a monument, and had it in the hearts of every true man, and who stood up... against power and corruption, yet this man was entitled to no thanks from those who came after him..."
-Waddy Thompson
Immigrant, Orphan, Soldier, Stateman
Born in county Wicklow, Ireland 1750, Matthew Lyon emigrated to the New World a teenage orphan and was sold into indentured servitude in CT. After working and bartering for his freedom, Lyon moved to the ‘Hampshire Grants' with Ethan Allen & Mary Hosford. Enlisting as a Private, he served in all the major local Revolutionary War battles including Ticonderoga, Montgomery’s army and Saratoga. Through the course of his honorable service he was promoted to Adjunct Paymaster to General Seth Warner.
Founder of Fairhaven Vermont, publisher of the Scourge of Aristocracy, Congressman Matthew Lyon was imprisoned for violating the Alien Sedition act; which had given the President unconstitutional authority to expel or refuse immigrants and imprison those who published against the administration. Lyon won re-election, by a 2 to 1 margin, while serving a four month jail sentence in Vergennes Vermont.
Jefferson, Madison, Monroe, Mason, Apollo Austin, the Green Mountain Boys, and the citizens in town ALL tried to pay his $1060.96 bail but Lyon and his 2nd wife Beulah refused the money.
The ‘Lyon of Vermont’ effectively ended the Federalist Party when casting the tie-breaking vote for President Jefferson during the election of 1800, which had gone to the Congress after the electoral college failed.
The Album Arc
Act 1.
from birth to congress
We Begin
n/a
Thomas Rowley, Bard of the Green Mountain Boys, plays an antique pump organ. He is joined by a modern band.
Ireland 1750
n/a
Born in county Wicklow, Ireland,1749. young Matthew may have witnessed his father's execution.
Females of History
n/a
Matthew's mother sends her 12 year old son to the new world. Never to see him again.
Sold for Sweat
n/a
Matthew is sold into indentured servitude in CT. His neighbor is Jeffrey Brace (The Blind African Slave)
Who am I?
n/a
Young orphan Lyon travels to vermont with Ethan Allen. Duet with ghost mother. Meets first wife.
The King Owns This Tree
n/a
Colonial real estate was rather one sided. His Royal Highness owned all trees suitable for constructing his Armada.
Tea Time in Beantown
n/a
The revolutionary war. The king consults his council, while riots in Boston. Note the 13 stars.
Catamount
n/a
In the Catamount Tavern the Green Mountain Boys toast to democratic ideals; worth fighting and dying for.
Hold My Tea
n/a
Triangulation of power. King George and young 'Uncle Sam' parlay with Vermont for statehood recognition
Carrion Crow
n/a
Lyon returns to the fields of battle to collect metal. melts swords to plowshares....
Porcupine Press
n/a
Yellow press/ fake news from William Cobbett, aka Peter Porcupine, accusations of the 'wooden sword'
Rags
n/a
The Scourge of Aristocracy, rag shortage, advent of 'pulp based paper' to refute Adams
Here Come the Lawyers
n/a
Finally gaining statehood, Vermont contends with an influx of flat-landers.
Mary
n/a
Matthews first wife, Mary Hosford, passes away. She has a dying wish.
Co-equal Branches
n/a
Lyon's first speech to congress was to refuse to attend Adams in an obsequious manner
Six Months
n/a
On the floor of congress, Lyon chastises Griswold claiming Federalists are lying to their constituents
Wooden Sword
n/a
Griswold taunts Lyon. Lyon tries to ignore him. Lyon spits in Griswold's face. Griswold attacks with hickory cane.
Act 2.
from congress to jail and back again
Alien & Sedition Acts
free
Lyrics nearly verbatim the actual sedition law. Lyon, a sitting congressman, led to prison.
Perhaps the Gentlemen
free
Lyons 2nd wife Beulah campaigns while Lyon is in Jail. Two colonial guards accompany her.
Ivory Tower
free
Lyon defiant from jail.
Who am I reprise
n/a
Lyon, still imprisoned, is a broken man.
Freedom is the Child
n/a
Lyon has a vision. Peace, a pregnant African American.
Marshall Fitch
n/a
Senator Mason of Virginia arrives in Vergennes to try and pay Lyons bail.
Cavalcade
n/a
Matthew hears his supporters outside his cell.
The Release
n/a
The Parade leaves Vergennes Vt to Philadelphia.
Tree of Democracy
n/a
Democracy takes root on route to Philadelphia
Lorraine
n/a
In the last year of his life, Ethan Allen mourns the loss of his daughter Lorraine. In the company of Lyon's daughter Lorraine.
Dream of Democracy
n/a
Lyon reaches Philadelphia with a renewed sense of purpose
Gotta kettle?
n/a
American forges come on line. The seeds of the industrial revolution are sown.
This Might Not Work
free
Election of 1800, Lyon cast tie-breaking vote for Thomas Jefferson, then leaves Vermont.
Epilgue -One Day
n/a
Onto the battlefield with iron word and wooden sword